It was just a little electrical fire.
And, I mean, we spill water around the spout of the electric kettle ALL the time when we’re filling it up.
Only today it made this really weird noise just as it began to boil. A noise like “zztzztzztzzt.” So I looked at it (because I was standing there waiting for it to boil) and I said out loud to it, “What the fuck is that noise?” And then I saw it in the reflection on the stove. A yellow glow. And I thought, hey, you’re on fire! So I pulled out the plug and the fire stopped. But when I finally got brave enough to pick the kettle up, the puddle of water on the counter was burning. Yes, burning. Not boiling. Burning.
So I said to the kettle, “You’re toast!” and I put it away where no one else will use it. After I poured the water for my tea of course. Let’s not get too crazy. I’m not going to throw out perfectly good boiling water for the sake of a little fire.
I’m just glad I was standing there. Standing there to say, “Nope, you’re not burning down MY kitchen!”
May 24, 2018 at 9:26 am
I didn’t know that calcium could cause water to burn! Now I’m wondering how much is in my water. Has it happened to you again?
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May 24, 2018 at 11:58 am
I think it’s more that the calcium buildup caused the kettle to malfunction. The water on the counter was smoking, but it wasn’t in contact with the calcium inside the kettle–that was caused by the electrical short.
And no, I got rid of the kettle. No more electric ones for me. 🙂
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April 18, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Good mercy! I’m also glad you were there to save the kitchen, and completely in agreement on not wasting the hot water. I mean, really, that’s the least the kettle could do!
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April 18, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Exactly! It was a bittersweet cup of tea. 😛 And yeah, I’m happy I was standing there too! Last time I get an electric kettle.
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April 18, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Arrogant Kettle, I won’t have aggressive white goods or appliances in my kitchen either! That’s why both toasters had to pack their bags and go!💜
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April 18, 2018 at 7:33 pm
You had not one, but two toasters do this? Wow!
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April 17, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Congrats on not burning down your kitchen!!
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April 18, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Haha! Thanks, Kristin. 🙂
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April 17, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Not funny but your storytelling made it funny.
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April 18, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Yay! That’s what I was aiming for. 😀
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April 17, 2018 at 11:45 am
What I want to know is: HOW WAS WATER BURNING? I’m with Dan — Pictures, or it didn’t happen! 😉
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April 18, 2018 at 7:24 pm
You guys are dangerous! Haha. But seriously, there was actual gray smoke coming off the water. It was weird!
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April 17, 2018 at 7:24 am
Tea first, but no picture? Just kidding. I’m glad you were there to take care of business.
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April 18, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Me too! And no, I didn’t wait to take a photo of the fire before I pulled the plug. 😛 😉
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April 17, 2018 at 6:54 am
You have your priorities right! Tea first, burning kitchen second. Yep I concur.
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April 18, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Haha! Gotta have priorities. 🙂
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April 17, 2018 at 3:42 am
I feel like that with the toaster.
Glad you got your cuppa, and you’ll need to dispose of the kettle so that no-one will use it, just in case.
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April 18, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Oh dear, be careful with your toaster!
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April 19, 2018 at 4:48 am
The smoke alarm has new batteries!
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April 19, 2018 at 8:39 am
That’s on my to-do list. I should probably move it up, eh?
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April 19, 2018 at 10:21 am
You can never be too careful!
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April 17, 2018 at 1:31 am
Well that was scary!
Glad you’re okay though!
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April 18, 2018 at 6:50 pm
Thanks, Ritu! It was kinda scary when it was happening.
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April 19, 2018 at 1:45 am
I can only imagine!
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April 17, 2018 at 12:32 am
You were lucky, Linda 🙂
Up to what kind of water, as you use for boiling in your kettle, it is often the calcium, as are killing our kettle and create holes, so the water can pass, where it shouldn’t.
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April 18, 2018 at 6:50 pm
That’s probably got a lot to do with it. We have a lot of calcium here. Thanks, Irene! 🙂 I’ll look for some kind of de-scaler for my next kettle.
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April 19, 2018 at 2:39 am
After I began to use bottled water here, I don’t see calcium in my kettle any longer. The water here is filled with calcium.
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April 16, 2018 at 11:56 pm
Well, there’s a lesson to that new flower pot! Don’t burn my house or I will throw dirt in you and grow flowers! At least that is the next part that I would do with something like that!
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April 18, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Haha! Nah, it’s too ugly to be a flower pot. It’s going in the garbage. 😛
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April 18, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Oh, well. Room for the new one! 🙂
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April 19, 2018 at 8:45 am
Right! 🙂
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April 16, 2018 at 11:08 pm
Gosh! Scary and what caused it?
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April 16, 2018 at 11:32 pm
Water and electricity is my guess. But how the water got into the inside of the kettle underneath where the wires are is beyond me.
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April 16, 2018 at 10:58 pm
Wow that was a close call! I’m glad it’s all good in the end! And I admire and love that you look at this incidence with a sense of humor..always love the positive energy picked up from your writing!:)
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April 16, 2018 at 11:03 pm
Thank you. 🙂 I always try to look at the bright side of things. Not only did my kitchen not burn down, I had something to write about for my N post on my illegal A to Z Challenge! 😉 ❤
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